Traumatic Brain Injuries: A National Epidemic

Traumatic Brain Injuries, also known as a closed head injury, TBI, head injury, brain damage or a concussion can dramatically affect the lives of those who have experienced brain trauma and their families. In many cases these brain injuries leave their victims permanently disabled in need of months or even years of brain injury rehabilitation, and may even cause wrongful death.

Our national legal practice is focused on the legal representation of brain injury victims and their family members

Our law firm has been selected as Preferred Attorneys by the Brain Injury Association of America

Michael Kaplen, Esq. is a legal advisor to Grid Iron Greats in their mission to provide proper compensation to retired football players who have sustained traumatic brain injuries

New York Personal Injury Attorneys: Pursuing Justice with a Passion

Choose a New York Brain Injury Law Firm with the Expertise to Effectively Represent You in Court

The brain injury lawyers at De Caro & Kaplen, LLP, understand the complex medical and legal implications of traumatic brain damage and recognize the emotional stress that you have sustained as a result of your brain trauma. Our New York based brain injury lawyers comprehend the complications of these unique brain trauma issues and can effectively represent victims of head injuries as a result. Contact us now for a free consultation.

We are proud that our senior partner, New York Brain Injury Lawyer Michael V. Kaplen is a Professorial Lecturer in Law at the George Washington University Law School teaching the only course on traumatic brain injury law in the Nation. He has served as the chair of the New York State Traumatic Brain Injury Services Coordinating Council and the three term past president of the Brain Injury Association of New York State. Brain Injury Attorney, Michael Kaplen also has served as the Chair of the Traumatic Brain Injury Litigation Group of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America. New York Brain Injury Attorney,

Shana De Caro is the Chair of the Traumatic Brain Injury Litigation Group of the American Association for Justice and elected secretary and board member of the Civil Justice Foundation.

Both of our Brain Injury Attorneys are proud members of the Brain Injury Association of New York State, the Brain Injury Association of America, the North American Brain Injury Society and the International Brain Injury Association.

Both of our partners have been selected as New York Super Lawyers and serve on the Board of Directors of the New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers.

Our New York personal injury attorneys co-author the traumatic brain injury column for the New York Law Journal and have co-authored the chapter on NeuroLaw for the Psychiatric Clinics of North America edition on traumatic brain injury and have lectured on brain injury malpractice at the Ground Rounds of Mt. Sinai Medical Center, New York.

Preferred Attorneys—Brain Injury Association of America

You’ve come to the right place for help in finding legal representation. The Brain Injury Association of America has recognized the skills and experience of our New York brain injury law firm by listing De Caro & Kaplen, LLP as “Preferred Attorneys”, the only New York attorneys with this distinguished honor.

Attorneys in the Brain Injury Association of America Preferred Lawyer Program “know the carelessness of others changes lives in an instant. They know the physical, cognitive, emotional, and financial tolls a brain injury can inflict on individuals and their families. Firms enrolled in the BIAA Preferred Attorneys Program know the stakes are high and that settling for less has lifelong consequences.”

Traumatic Brain Injury–An Injury with Lifelong Consequences

While the symptoms of a concussion or other traumatic brain injury may not be apparent to the casual observer, post concussion syndrome and brain trauma can cause devastating life long consequences.

Although no amount of money can reverse the damage these head injuries cause, a full and fair settlement can provide a person suffering from a traumatic brain injury the necessary funds for the long term rehabilitation and medical care, which is often necessary after brain trauma. It can provide the needed money to replace loss of income due to inability to work or get promoted. A sufficient settlement will also allow a person with TBI to get the assistance and brain injury rehabilitation that he/she needs to live in the community with family and loved ones, as well as provide help to a spouse and children.

Free Brain Trauma Legal Guide

Our commitment to the rights of brain injury victims has led us to publish Brain Injury – A Guide to Your Legal Rights – a book covering all aspects of brain injury, including signs and symptoms, communicating with your doctor, selecting legal representation, and financial planning options. Contact Us to receive a free copy of this valuable resource today.

We are proud to sponsor and support the programs and activities of the New York State Brain Injury Association and the Brain Injury Association of America. We take great pride in representing our clients with compassion and enthusiasm to see that justice is done. Since we believe that the best cure for a traumatic brain injury is prevention, we advocate taking an active role in brain trauma prevention programs.

Did you know that according to the Centers for Disease Control, every 23 seconds, someone in the USA is the victim of brain trauma?

Acquired Brain Injury

Brain injury can also occur from non-traumatic events. When the brain damage was not caused by trauma, it is referred to as an acquired brain injury.

Frequent Causes of Acquired or Non-Traumatic Brain Damage:

Aneurysm: when the walls of a blood vessel in the brain are weakened, bleeding within the brain can take place and brain damage can occur

Encephalitis or Meningitis: when an infection takes place in the brain, brain damage can occu

Hydrocephalus: when fluid builds up in the ventricles of the brain causing compression of the brain’s nerve cells, brain damage can occur

Hypoxia: when the brain is deprived of sufficient oxygen, brain damage can occur

Stroke: when an embolus travels from an artery and becomes lodged in the brain, brain damage can occur

Toxic chemicals: when the brain is poisoned by chemicals or mold, brain damage can occur

The effects of brain injury

Brain injury can have cognitive, physical and emotional effects that will have a profound impact upon the individual.

Cognitive effects of brain injury include::

Attention and concentration impairments

Cognitive fatigue

Difficulties multi-tasking

Difficulties problem solving

Learning disability

Memory loss and amnesia

Physical effects of brain injury include:

Dizziness and balance impairment

Headaches

Nausea and vomiting

Taste and smell changes

Sensitivity to bright light

Sensitivity to loud noise

Seizures

Sleep disturbance

Visual impairment

Emotional and behavioral effects of brain injury include:

Anger

Depression

Frustration

Impulsivity

Irritability

Lack of self-control

Lack of motivation

Sexual disinhibition

Contact a New York based brain injury lawyer at De Caro & Kaplen, LLP for a free, no obligation consultation about your brain injury case. We can be reached toll free at 1 866 272 4652 or 1 914 747 4410 or you can use this form: Contact Us.

Graduate of Marquette University, College of Health Sciences, in Neuro Anatomical Dissection of the Human Brain and Spinal Cord

Member:
New York Academy of Trial Lawyers
New York State Trial Lawyers Association
Brain Injury Association New York State
North American Brain Injury Association

Nursing Home Litigation Group
American Assoc. for Justice

Interstate Trucking Litigation Group
American Assoc. for Justice

Birth Trauma Litigation Group
American Assoc. for Justice

Stroke Litigation Group

American Assoc. for Justice

Professional Liability Litigation Group

American Assoc. for Justice

Professional Information Exchange Negligence Litigation Group

American Assoc. For Justice

Ask The Expert: BrainLine
Contributing Author

Advisory Board, Acquired Brain Injury Program, The George Washington University Graduate School of Education and Human Development, Washington, D.C.

Admitted to Practice:
New York State
United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
United States Federal District Courts:
Southern, Eastern and Northern Districts of New York
United States Tax Court
United States Court of International Trade
District of Columbia
Supreme Court of the United States

* The National Board of Trial Advocacy and the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys are not affiliated with any government authority. Certification is not a requirement for the practice of law in the State of New York and does not necessarily indicate greater competence than other attorneys experienced in this field of law.